Seasonal movement patterns of the eastern grey kangaroo in Southern Queensland

A 2-y study was made of seasonal movement patterns of the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus Shaw, in the Warwick district of south-eastern, and the Bollon district of south-western, Queensland. Faecal pellet counts were used to obtain indices of kangaroo usage of cleared country adjacent to cover. Kangaroos were sensitive to changes in forage status, particularly pasture phenology. As quality and quantity of forage reserves declined, animals made progressively greater use of cleared areas. This resulted in marked seasonal changes in distribution patterns. Of the variables quantified (rainfall, soil moisture storage and pasture growth), rainfall provided the best correlations with kangaroo usage of cleared country, explaining 55% (P = 0·002) of the variation in distribution at Warwick and 91% (P = 0·001) of that at Bollon

A study of grey kangaroo density using pellet counts

During May and July 1978 two faecal pellet surveys were conducted to attain indices of abundance for a stable population of grey kangaroos within a 33-km2 block of state forest in southern Queensland. The study area was divided into 25-ha cells, from which approximately one-fifth were selected by random means for survey. Each cell was sampled by two parallel transects 100 m apart. Along each transect 25 regularly spaced 0.001-ha circular plots were searched for faecal pellets within particular age ranges. Results were 4634 ± 19% and 5071 ± 19% pellets km-2 per day respectively (Y ± SE). The two surveys displayed no significant variance in estimates of average density. Preliminary surveys produced no significant difference in estimates of faecal pellet density between plots of 0.001 and 0.0003 ha. This held true for counts of pellet totals and pellet group totals. Sampling efficiency was superior for the larger plot

A classification strategy for mapping trochus shell habitat in torres strait, australia

Trochus niloticus is a large, marine gastropod that is harvested from the coral reefs of Torres Strait, to the north of Australia. Prime habitat for the large, commercial sized trochus is restricted to narrow zones of coral rubble and pavement on the windward edges of reefs. These areas are difficult to map and survey for trochus shell. Initial research demonstrated that Landsat TM imagery could be used to produce an accurate map of trochus habitat for a single reef. A methodology was then developed to transfer a classification mask, generated from this intensively surveyed reef to others in Bourke Group of islands. The procedure returned results that were within 2% to 12% (underestimates) of areal estimates based on fieldwork and air photo interpretation This methodology offers potential as an accurate and cost effective way of monitoring habitat across the remote environments occupied by trochus

Nearest Neighbour Analysis and Wedge‐Tailed Shearwater Burrow Patterns on Heron and Masthead Islands, Great Barrier Reef

Heron and Masthead Islands in the Capricorn Group of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park support major nesting colonies of the wedge‐tailed shearwater. The distribution pattern of shearwater nesting burrows was established for particular habitats on both islands by means of a nearest neighbour analysis. Areas of Pisonia grandis forest had the highest burrow density and near‐random distribution patterns for burrows while the island fringes had the lowest densities and higher degrees of aggregation. These results may reflect the importance of social communication within a wedge‐tailed shearwater colony. Burrows are distributed in patches around the margins of the colony where clear and fringe habitats are represented, but randomly near the centre in Pisonia areas, where sheer numbers may negate the need for further aggregation. Copyrigh

Habitat mapping by landsat for aerial census of kangaroos

Landsat MSS imagery was used to map habitat categories used in connection with aerial census work that estimates population levels of kangaroos. A study area featuring typical habitat patterns was selected in the marginal wheat lands of southern, inland Queensland. A series of unsupervized classifications of the imagery provided accurate estimation of the relative proportions and distribution of these habitats. The data form a useful base for programmes that: monitor the numbers and distribution of kangaroos; and attempt of refine aerial census methodology

Integrating Landsat and Land Systems for Cover Maps in Southern Inland Queensland

Digital analysis of Landsat data is applied to up‐dating land cover maps for the Goondiwindi district of southern, inland Queensland. The imagery was paired with climax cover maps obtained from land systems reports with analysis conducted separately for each of three climax cover types (open forest, woodland and open woodland). Computer classification using this approach produced readily interpreted and reliable results. This work demonstrates that Landsat can be used in conjunction with existing, land systems derived maps to produce data that combine the advantages of two approaches to environmental survey, the former being based on current land cover/land use and the latter on the original environment and its land use potential. Copyrigh

An aerial survey of feral pigs and emus in south-eastern Queensland

Aerial surveys of feral pigs in the Goondiwindi region of Queensland showed an overall observed density of about 1 per square kilometree. On mature wheat crops in October, up to four feral pigs per square kilometre were seen amidst substantial crop damage. Emus were less abundant and seen more evenly over all habitats at an average of 0-3 per square kilometre. Factors affecting sightability are discussed

The use of wheat crops by grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, in southern Queensland

Aerial surveys of eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, were conducted over the western edge of the wheat belt of southern Queensland in two wet years (1983 and 1984) and one year of average rainfall (1985). Because most kangaroos moved rapidly off crops shortly after dawn and returned shortly before dusk, flights within 15 min of dawn and dusk provided the best indicators of kangaroo crop usage. Very low densities were observed on mature crops in all years and on immature crops in the two wetter years. In July 1985, which was drier, a density of 11 kangaroos km was recorded on immature crops. This density was comparable with that for all uncultivated land in the surveyed area. Close to undeveloped land, densities of 14-17 kangaroos km were observed on crops